Making Schools Safe for Exploitation

In another example of the so-called "major media" refusing to print anything negative about President Obama, they have given scant attention to the problems associated with Kevin Jennings, his Safe Schools Czar. Jennings is the guy who gave advice to a fifteen-year-old high school student about how to protect himself when he was having sex with an adult man. Mr. Jennings was told that the boy met the man in a bus-station restroom, and it seems that the best he could do was to tell the boy, "I hope you knew to use a condom."

This is the same guy who has expressed admiration for Harry Hay, a notorious and extremely prominent supporter of the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). Jennings is quoted as saying, "One of the people that's always inspired me is Harry Hay." In case you aren't familiar with NAMBLA, they are a group of adult men who have developed an organization dedicated to seducing young boys to have sex with grown men. The stated goal on their website is "to end the extreme oppression of men and boys in mutually consensual relationships by building understanding and support for such relationships and educating the general public on the benevolent nature of man/boy love." The term they use for their disgusting behavior is "intergenerational sex."

In my opinion, the fact that the President of the United States would appoint someone who evidently admires this perversion to a position that oversees the nation's schoolchildren means we are closer to the end than I feared. Recent revelations about Jennings include that in 1990, he founded the Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network, which later became the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). (Please, don't anyone write and accuse me of being a homophobe. Acknowledging gayness is one thing; teaching it is quite another.)

Jennings was the executive director of GLSEN until August 2008. One of the group's jobs was to make lists of suggested readings for K-through-12 students and their teachers. The reading lists categorize books by the ages for which they purportedly are appropriate. A review of the suggested readings makes it clear that they promote homosexuality and promiscuity. Several passages discuss kids having sex with adults. The sexual scenarios and references are too graphic to put in this column, but according to the Schools Czar, they are apparently not too graphic for children to read.

This is one of those times when we collectively ask ourselves where our elected officials are. Well, I'll tell you where one of them is, as well as who he is. Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas) has introduced a resolution calling for the immediate firing of Kevin Jennings. Burgess' resolution, H.R. 966, cites a reading list and recorded tapings from a conference sponsored by Jennings that promotes sexual activities between children and adults.

The appointment of Kevin Jennings as, of all things, the Safe Schools Czar, is very concerning. His support for extremely inappropriate sexual education programs and his promotion of these programs to young school-aged children should not be tolerated.

"If President Obama believes a Safe Schools Czar is necessary, the post must be held by an individual who does not promote criminal behavior and will defend American values." The resolution by Rep. Burgess referred to a Washington Times report that Jennings was "involved in promoting a reading list for children 13 years or older that made the most explicit sex between children and adults seem normal.

Congressman Burgess also delivered a speech on the floor of the House in which he made his concerns about Jennings known. In addition, he wrote a letter to the president and to Education Secretary Arne Duncan calling for the termination of Jennings. I'm particularly proud because Dr. Burgess happens to be my local congressman, and his courageous attention to this matter is no surprise to me. However, given the hot-button issue of anything related to gay organizations and the political pusillanimity of many in the Congress, I would be surprised to see him receive a lot of support for his resolution from his colleagues. Yet that's always the case when a leader takes a stand. Keep in mind, if it had no risk attached, they'd all be doing it.

Bob Weir is a former detective sergeant in the New York City Police Department. He is the executive editor of The News Connection in Highland Village, Texas. E-mail Bob.

In another example of the so-called "major media" refusing to print anything negative about President Obama, they have given scant attention to the problems associated with Kevin Jennings, his Safe Schools Czar. Jennings is the guy who gave advice to a fifteen-year-old high school student about how to protect himself when he was having sex with an adult man. Mr. Jennings was told that the boy met the man in a bus-station restroom, and it seems that the best he could do was to tell the boy, "I hope you knew to use a condom."

This is the same guy who has expressed admiration for Harry Hay, a notorious and extremely prominent supporter of the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). Jennings is quoted as saying, "One of the people that's always inspired me is Harry Hay." In case you aren't familiar with NAMBLA, they are a group of adult men who have developed an organization dedicated to seducing young boys to have sex with grown men. The stated goal on their website is "to end the extreme oppression of men and boys in mutually consensual relationships by building understanding and support for such relationships and educating the general public on the benevolent nature of man/boy love." The term they use for their disgusting behavior is "intergenerational sex."

In my opinion, the fact that the President of the United States would appoint someone who evidently admires this perversion to a position that oversees the nation's schoolchildren means we are closer to the end than I feared. Recent revelations about Jennings include that in 1990, he founded the Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network, which later became the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). (Please, don't anyone write and accuse me of being a homophobe. Acknowledging gayness is one thing; teaching it is quite another.)

Jennings was the executive director of GLSEN until August 2008. One of the group's jobs was to make lists of suggested readings for K-through-12 students and their teachers. The reading lists categorize books by the ages for which they purportedly are appropriate. A review of the suggested readings makes it clear that they promote homosexuality and promiscuity. Several passages discuss kids having sex with adults. The sexual scenarios and references are too graphic to put in this column, but according to the Schools Czar, they are apparently not too graphic for children to read.

This is one of those times when we collectively ask ourselves where our elected officials are. Well, I'll tell you where one of them is, as well as who he is. Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas) has introduced a resolution calling for the immediate firing of Kevin Jennings. Burgess' resolution, H.R. 966, cites a reading list and recorded tapings from a conference sponsored by Jennings that promotes sexual activities between children and adults.

The appointment of Kevin Jennings as, of all things, the Safe Schools Czar, is very concerning. His support for extremely inappropriate sexual education programs and his promotion of these programs to young school-aged children should not be tolerated.

"If President Obama believes a Safe Schools Czar is necessary, the post must be held by an individual who does not promote criminal behavior and will defend American values." The resolution by Rep. Burgess referred to a Washington Times report that Jennings was "involved in promoting a reading list for children 13 years or older that made the most explicit sex between children and adults seem normal.

Congressman Burgess also delivered a speech on the floor of the House in which he made his concerns about Jennings known. In addition, he wrote a letter to the president and to Education Secretary Arne Duncan calling for the termination of Jennings. I'm particularly proud because Dr. Burgess happens to be my local congressman, and his courageous attention to this matter is no surprise to me. However, given the hot-button issue of anything related to gay organizations and the political pusillanimity of many in the Congress, I would be surprised to see him receive a lot of support for his resolution from his colleagues. Yet that's always the case when a leader takes a stand. Keep in mind, if it had no risk attached, they'd all be doing it.

Bob Weir is a former detective sergeant in the New York City Police Department. He is the executive editor of The News Connection in Highland Village, Texas. E-mail Bob.